In practice, POS (point of sale) and EPOS (electronic point-of-sale) are often used to mean the same thing. What matters most is whether your system supports reliable payments, clear reporting and day-to-day retail operations.

There isn’t one ‘best’ solution for every retailer. The right retail POS system depends on your store size, product range and how customers prefer to pay. For many small retailers, the priority is fast checkout, clear reporting and a setup that can grow with the business.

Elavon POS is a retail POS system software designed to help manage more than checkout. It supports inventory tracking, barcode printing, customer and employee management, discounts and gift cards, which can help keep retail operations running smoothly.

Look for a setup that supports secure in-store payments, connects cleanly to online sales if you need it, and makes end-of-day reporting straightforward. Many retailers also prioritise dependable card processing and responsive customer support.

Retail POS system cost depends on the setup you choose, such as how many checkouts you need, whether you want terminals and other POS system retail hardware, and whether you also need online payments. If you’re comparing options, it helps to get a quote based on your store layout, transaction mix and reporting needs. 

Set-up time depends on your product catalogue, user access, hardware installation and whether you need integrations. If you already have your products and pricing ready, POS system rollout can often be done in stages, starting with checkout and payments, then adding extras such as barcodes, discounts and multi-location reporting.

Most retailers use hardware such as a card terminal, receipt printer and cash drawer. Depending on your store, you may also want shop till systems and barcode scanners, plus additional terminals for multi-checkout or mobile selling on the shop floor. 

Yes. Many retailers run an in-store setup alongside a POS system for online retail, so they can sell online and face-to-face while keeping reporting and reconciliation simpler across channels. 

Elavon Payment Gateway (EPG) is an online payments platform that supports ecommerce and card-not-present payments, including Pay by Link and a browser-based Virtual Terminal, with additional options such as hosted checkout and API integration depending on your setup.

Elavon supports retail card processing so customers can pay in the ways they expect, including: credit and debit cards, chip and PIN, contactless and digital wallets (for example Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay) on phones and smartwatches. We also support card payment solutions for retail businesses that extend beyond the till, such as Pay by Link (secure payment links by email or text) and Virtual Terminal for taking card payments over the phone, with no extra hardware needed.

Yes. Many retailers choose retail payment software and POS solutions that bring sales and payment data into clearer reporting, helping end-of-day close and reconciliation. Elavon Connect can help by bringing payment activity and reporting into one place, with downloadable reports to support back-office reconciliation. If you run multiple sites, consistent reporting can make it easier to compare performance and spot exceptions.

Yes. Elavon POS systems are designed to be simple to set up and easy to use, and the same applies if you’re choosing a POS system for a small retail store. The key is picking a setup that fits your store layout and how you sell.

Yes. Many retailers start with one site and expand. A consistent retail POS system across locations can make reporting, reconciliation and staff training simpler as you add stores or checkouts.